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DIY

How to Repair a Water Softener

September 11, 2019Leave a Comment

Repairing a malfunctioning water softener can turn out to be a daunting task especially if you’re not a well-trained handyman. On the other hand, several issues can lead to malfunctioning. From a faulty brine tank to low water pressure, the repairing process is not always that easy. Read on as we take you through the step by step process of how to repair a water softener.

Step #1: Turn it off

This should be the first step before checking for any faults in the unit. Start with disconnecting the unit from its power source. You can then proceed to measure the water hardness output which is measured in GPG (grains per gallon) or mg/L (milligrams of calcium carbonate/liter).

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), soft water has 0-60mg/L milligrams of calcium carbonate/liter, 61-120 mg/L for moderately hard water, 121-180 mg/L for hard water and 180 plus mg/L for very hard water.

Step #2: Clean the salt/brine tank

The next step is to perform a thorough cleaning of your brine tank by removing any hard dome or crust that might have been formed. This should also be part of your routine maintenance schedule at least once every month. Start by manually emptying water from the tank before carefully cleaning it. Check and clean clogged drain control and tubing and if necessary replace the timer.

NOTE: Always use soapy water to clean the tank and the brine as well before thoroughly rinsing it.

Step #3: clean out the resin bed

Lying just next to the brine tank, the resin bed is like the engine of your unit. That said, an iron-fouled one could be the primary source of your troubles. Presence of iron, silt or manganese in your water will “foul” the resin bed which softens the water by removing hard water particles and replacing them with sodium.

To fix this scenario, there are a variety of cleaners which contain hydrogen hydrosulfite. This substance is mainly found in citric acid, hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid cleaners. That aside, running the correct amount of Iron-Out through the brine tank’s system is very important. Next, conduct manual regeneration through your softener and then purge the wastewater.

Step #4: Clean the injector

The resin tank injector could also be the source of your problems especially if it gets clogged. To remove the dirty salt sediments, begin by shutting off the water by engaging the bypass valve (white plastic). The next step is to run your softener via manual regeneration to relieve the water pressure. Finally, on the softener’s head, remove the caps on both sides and then thoroughly clean the injector and its screen before rinsing.

Step #5: Check for leaks from pipe connections

Finally, after you have completed all the above processes, carefully check for leakages in your softener’s water lines, tanks or any other components. While it’s possible for mistakes to be made during installation, always check the whole system for any faults and then proceed to fix or replace them. You can begin with inspecting the valves, O-rings, Pistons, seals and cracked tubes.

In case of any leaks while your water softener is still relatively new, quickly contact the installer because the leak (s) could be as a result of installation issues. Also, don’t forget to conduct a proper test to make sure your unit works fine after the repair. You should notice the water moving backward through the system.

Conclusion

Was that post helpful? Well, the next time you’re looking to repair your water softener successfully, kindly follow these detailed steps to get your unit flowing again. Kindly comment or read more reviews on this site in the comment section below and also feel free to share this detailed guide.

Home Improvement

Hard Water Disadvantages and the Pros and Cons of Getting a Water Softener

July 27, 2019Leave a Comment

Hard water is a common problem in homes, and luckily, technology has provided efficient ways to solve this problem. Hard water is basically water that has dissolved salts of magnesium and calcium, and this makes the water hard. It also contains chlorides, sulphates, bicarbonates and in worse cases, ferrous iron which can turn your clothes and dishes brown and also discolor your teeth. From the sound of these minerals, you can see that they can be very harmful, and even annoying, when in large quantities, and this is why hard water is not ideal for domestic use. Although science tells us that drinking hard water is healthy to drink because it contains calcium and magnesium, when these are in large quantities, they are far from healthy. That is why it is advisable to purchase an efficient water softening system. I got myself a Fleck water softener because it is highly effective and easy to use. With a water softener, you have no problems with hard water.

Disadvantages of hard water are:

1. Clogged pipes:

You would end up with clogged pipes which would eventually burst if you don’t notice it early. The minerals in the water would form a coating of lime scale inside the pipes, and this would clog the pipes leading to low water pressure. If you don’t notice this early, the pipes would finally burst. Hard water also causes pipes to suffer corrosion and rusts, and so you would have to frequently fix or replace your pipes. This is obviously costly, and so buying a water softening system would fix this problem immediately.

2. Damaged Water Appliances

When you use hard water, because of the build-up of lime scale, you would end up with damaged dishwashers, washing machines, coffee makers, showers and showerheads. The lime scale would eventually cause the appliances to get damaged and then you would have to fix or replace them frequently. When you wash dishes with a dishwasher, the minerals in the water add spots or stains to your dishes. When using a washing machine, you end up with faded or unclean clothes. The minerals in the hard water combine with the dirt on clothes, and this stains your clothes permanently. With boilers, lime scale would also cause the boilers to become less efficient which would lead to high electricity bills. Your electricity bills can increase as high as twenty five percent more than the usual price. After a while, you would eventually have to buy another boiler because it would get damaged.

3. No Lather

When you use hard water with soap to wash, you would not have a soap lather or it would take a while before you can work up a quick lather. Although you might think that you need to change your soap, it is actually the fault of the hard water. Soft water on the other hand, gives out a lot of lather when you’re washing with soap.

4. Adverse Effects on Hair and Skin

When you wash your hair with hard water, your locks or tresses would eventually have a hint of red, and this would not remove when you wash it. You would have to go a salon to treat your hair. You would also end up with dry hair. When you bath with hard water, you can also get irritated and dry skin. The minerals in the hard water would be left behind on your skin and it makes your skin rough and dry. Hard water also would not remove any bacteria on your skin and so this would end up being harmful to your skin.

When you use a water softener, you get to avoid all these dreadful disadvantages. Although there are pros and cons of water softeners, the pros outweigh the cons and water softeners eventually provide you with healthy, clean soft water. You can purchase less expensive water softeners so that you can avoid high costs, and you can also look out for water softeners which also filter out any dirt or bacteria from the water. Although water softeners require constant maintenance, it does not take time and it is worth it because of the many benefits that soft water brings.

Uncategorized

Water Softener Regeneration: How Does It Work?

February 23, 2019July 27, 2019Leave a Comment

Hard water is tough on your hair, skin, tools and your pocket. Water softeners are there to annihilate this problem. This will extend the life of boilers, heaters and eradicate rusting.

Soft water helps in:

Easy cleaning
No stains on tiles and tubs
Less water consumption
Smooth hair and clear skin
Reduced energy bills
Increased Lifespan of Appliances
Bright clothes

Water Softener Mechanism:

People misconceive that salts purify water but it is the dense resin bed which does the job. They filter chemicals and minerals from hard water. Salts are utilized during the regeneration cycle for a continuous process.

In brief, this is what water softeners do:

Hard water enters from the pipe and travels through the resin bed.
Resin beads attract impurities and ion exchange process takes place.
Now soft water is supplied to the entire home.

The Regeneration Process:

Water softener regeneration is when water present in the pipe is recirculated. It not necessarily installed in every water softener but it has many benefits attached to it.

There are many hookups which are connected to the water supply of your home like ion exchange process. Water flow back is extended during the regeneration cycle via an extended water loop. This loop extends soft water flow via softener. It helps in preventing rust and impurities.

Sodium ions are exchanged with minerals of hard water i.e. calcium and magnesium. After sometime resin beads have to get rid of the minerals and get recharged. Here is where a regeneration cycle work begins:

A strong salt solution is added to the softener. This solution is known as brine and stored in the brine tank.
Brine flows through resin beads and collects the minerals that are collected through the water softening.
This brine solution containing hard water flushes out from the drain pipe.
Resin beads are now renewed and ready for the next process of water softening.

How long a Regeneration Cycle takes place?

The regeneration cycle usually takes 10 to 30 minutes for a set to complete. This depends on your piping system. Hence it is recommended to commence this course when water is not used at home, especially at night.

Water Softener Lifespan:

As per quality water softeners can last up to 20 years. For efficient working and optimal use, of proper maintenance is required.

Do you know water quality also affects the softening system? More minerals will use more salts and will situate pressure on the system and degradation will be early. This is vice versa if water is less hard. That is why it is recommended to conduct a water test before the installation.

ALSO READ – Hard Water Disadvantages and the Pros and Cons of Getting a Water Softener

Why Backwash Cycle is Imperative?

Backwash cycle is an important part of water softeners. This set helps in removing dirt and grime from the primary tank. This improves water flow and quality.

How to Manually Regenerate?

Your water softening machinery comes with knobs that can be turned to start the regeneration cycle. It depends on which model you have. Check before you install.

Conclusion:

If you are missing a crucial step of regenerating then notice the signs like smelly water or color difference. This means pipe have impurities stick to it. Later issues may arise so to improve quality and remove contaminants then get it changed.

DIY

6 Methods to Purify Your Water At Home

January 7, 2019Leave a Comment

Water purification is paramount, more so when you find yourself away from the horn. Carrying bottled water with you might be ideal, but this option will only last you so long. Knowledge of several water purification techniques may be the difference between survival and imminent water infection, but don’t you worry, I have put together a few tips and tricks to ensure you know how to purify water for cooking and drinking on your next adventure.

What is Water purification?

Water purification is the process where you remove unwanted substances, solid and gaseous suspensions and any other biological contaminants from water, mainly to make the water fit for consumption. Remember, before you can start purification, you will need to find a good water source. I recommend ponds or streams, but rain, ice, snow or even dew can be used to collect water. Tapping a maple or birch tree is also a creative way to get water but only if the option is available to you. Although some of these sources come with clear water, it is always a good idea to further purify the water to be sure. I have prepared for you six easy ways to purify your water.

How to Purify Water

1. Boiling

Boiling is a viable method if your water source doesn’t have too much chemical pollution. The process kills bacteria and parasites in the water but does not evaporate all chemical pollutants. It is, however, one of the safer methods for water disinfection. Boil water for 5-10 minutes to be safe. Use a heatproof container and boil over a fire or stove. 2.Create an improvised filter

At some point in the adventure, you may find yourself in a survival situation with no access to a filter or chemicals to purify the water you want to drink. Boiling is one option, but it can’t get sand, chemicals, and other particles out of the water. These particles will remain even after cooking with the water, and as a result, you may suffer from significant health effects. Faced with such a situation, the best way to purify your water is to use an improvised filter. It is possible to create a filter with materials readily available to you, and this will ensure that dirt particles and some of the chemicals are removed from the water. Remember to boil the water after filtering it so that all viruses and bacteria are killed. How to Create the filterThings you will require – Water from a source – pebbles – charcoal – Sand -a piece of cloth

Step 1: Creating the filter

You can create a filter by removing the bottom of a bottle. Turn the bottle upside-down (with the cap down), and then the put in the materials in the order pebbles, sand, cloth, charcoal, cloth, sand, pebbles, like illustrated in the image above. The cloth is used to ensure that all the different materials do not mix. The pebbles and sand filter the particles and the dirt out of the water. The charcoal removes most of the chemicals out of the water. You can’t remove any viruses and bacteria from the water using this filter, so you have to boil the water afterwards.

Step 2: How to Use the Filter

Gently fetch some water from a pond or a puddle with your cup and try to get as little dirt as possible as you can The more soil, the faster the filter becomes clogged and inevitably unusable. Pour the collected water No the filter and catch it at the bottom of the screen in a clean container. I recommend throwing away the first bit of water out of your filter because it is often cloudy and not that clean. If the water that comes out of your filter is clear, it is right for you to use Cooking will kill viruses and bacteria that are still present in your water. Boil the water for at least ten to fifteen minutes before drinking it

3. Distilling

Distilling involves heating water into steam which is then captured and reverted into a liquid state. Distilling is one of the ways to make salty water suitable for drinking. If you’re also concerned with heavy metal contamination then distilling your water is the way to go.

How to make distilled water at home

Fill a stainless-steel container half full with regular or tap water. 2. Place a round, glass bowl afloat in the water into the steel container. The container is not to touch the bottom of the pot. It will easily float if you put the right amount of water in your steel container. If it proves challenging to float it, place a round rack on the bottom of the pot to give the glass bowl support. 3. Place the container’s lid on the container upside down to form a bowl shape and fill it with ice. Remember the rule of condensation; hot steam touches the cold layer and condenses into the inner bowl. 4. When you suspect the bowl will sink, gently empty it into a clean container and repeat the process. 5. Refill the ice periodically to ensure complete condensation.

4. Survival Straw filter

One of the most light-weight ways to purify water is by using a straw style filter. These straws are used in the same as any ordinary drinking straw, and some can also be connected to drain valves. These filters contain activated carbon which filters out most large pathogens and bacteria in addition to adding flavour to the water. You can purchase a straw style filter for emergency preparedness from the link below.

5. Solar disinfection (SODIS)

SODIS or solar disinfection is a water treatment method that uses the sun for disinfection. The method purifies water and makes it drinkable. This method is however not a good option for any chemical contamination.

Three things to consider when applying the SODIS method

Material and colour of the container Use clear glass or plastic bottles for this method. The most common practice is to use plastic bottles full of water and leave them in the sun for at least a day. UV rays kill almost all of the biologically-based contaminants in the water. The advantage Is that it’s easy to use
Quality of the water The water has to be transparent with no colouration. This method will not work otherwise. Make sure you have filtered all particles from the water.
Weather Make sure to put out the water on a sunny day. For cloudy days, leave the bottles out for an extra day to ensure decontamination.

6. Using a Commercial Filter

Even though you can create your filter, it is best to invest in a commercial filter as part of your survival gear. These filters use a pump to force water through a filtration cartridge. The method gets rid of almost eve common bacteria and viruses present. This method is a terrific option for purifying large amounts of =M Follow the link below to see a list of affordable commercial filters.

Disinfecting and filtering your water supply is a vital step especially when you are not sure about the purity of the water you are using. If you are faced with this emergency, you’ll need to know what your available options are for clean water. With the above-provided knowledge on how to purify water with the help of water softener, you’ll have the skills to turn almost any water source into drinkable water. Did you like this information? Please leave your suggestions or comments belo

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“Tick Tock Tick Tock” Doesn’t time fly by!

January 7, 2019Leave a Comment

Time goes fast when you are having fun and this year has just flown by so far.

There are times when I pinch myself that the things that happen every day are really happening to me!

2014 has been an immense year for me so far and I am living in a world where anything is possible. I have been taking time this month to look at my progress and it has been very interesting. I looked back 10 years and the different areas in my life and assessed my progress.

10 years ago now I was a month away from a total breakdown, my life had reached a point where I no longer wanted to be living it and I was having regular thoughts of ending it all. I was heart broken, defeated, exhausted and negative. My life had no meaning and I not only couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, there was no tunnel! It was at the time the most challenging period of my life and I was only 29! Nothing was in balance and I was defiantly not a priority in my own life. I existed, I did not live and in the darkest moment I asked myself “Is this really the life I am here to live? Is this really what my purpose is on this planet?” I knew that I had so much more, yet didn’t know what.

Now one thing I did have is something I have had since I was a little girl and that was and is “Determination.” I was determined that I would have people in my life who were proud of me, I was determined that, at my funeral, the obituary would say “Clare was one of those special people, who truly understood the meaning of life. Not only did she understand it she lived it and made her life amazing!” I knew that the only person who could create this was me. That was the beginning, the next few years were better and the true Clare who had been drawing in her own self pity started to emerge. When I look at me today, I have an enormous sense of pride in my achievements, I get a huge kick out of my life and know that I am here to “Love the life I live” The world I live in now asks much better questions, I learn how to do that, how to ask a better question that would help me to see the answer I needed not the one that was the easy option. I know that pain and failure were and still are part of my journey.

Here’s the thing, what does not kill us makes us stronger.